LA Opera is hosting a special concert on April 1 and here are some reasons why this concert is not-to-be-missed.

Domingo, Domingo, DomingoWhen Plácido Domingo is your general director, you get the benefits of his artistic vision, his influence and his talent. For this one-night only concert, Maestro Domingo has brought together some of the worlds most acclaimed opera singers – Sondra Radvanovsky, Diana Damrau and Nicolas Testé. He’s also invited back many celebrated alumni of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist program, including Joshua Guerrero, So Young Park and Brenton Ryan. They’ll sing together and alongside the very talented artists currently in the distinguished program. And as if singing weren’t enough, when he’s not singing, he’ll conduct the LA Opera Orchestra. (When he is singing, Resident Conductor Grant Gershon will take the reins.)

Simon Boccanegra (2012): Photo: Robert Millard

DuetsThe world of opera is filled with famous duets – some romantic, some reflective, some heroic. Here’s what we’re excited about: Plácido Domingo and Sondra Radvanovsky singing the recognition scene from Simon Boccanegra and the beloved Merry Widow duet (“Lippen schweigen”); Domingo joining with tenor Joshua Guerrero for the gorgeous Pearl Fishers duet; as well as Diana Damrau and Nicolas Testé performing the seductive “Là ci darem la mano” from Don Giovanni.

Sondra Radvanovsky as the title character in Tosca (2013); Photo: Robert Millard

Superstars and solosExcited yet? Each of our superstars will blow you away in arias all their own. Sondra Radvanovsky, Diana Damrau and Nicolas Testé have also chosen signature arias from I Vespri Sicilani, Suor Angelica, The Marriage of Figaro and Lehar’s lovely Giuditta.

Alumni return to the nestSo Young Park, last heard as Blondchen in The Abduction from the Seraglio and soon to be Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann, will showcase her astonishing coloratura. Joshua Guerrero will be featured as the carefree Duke of Mantua in an extended scene from Rigoletto. And Brenton Ryan will sing “Oh, the lion may roar” (the chilling aria sung by villainous Bégearss) from The Ghosts of Versailles.

Sneak peeks at upcoming shows and memories of the greats
Among the pieces Maestro Domingo has selected for this very special concert, you will get to hear him in Simon Boccanegra (an unforgettable highlight from our 2011/12 season). You’ll also hear selections from Rigoletto and The Pearl Fishers, both to be featured in our season to come. And don’t forget, Diana Damrau and Nicolas Testé will make their LA Opera debuts in The Tales of Hoffmann, opening this weekend, and Sondra Radvanovsky will reprise her acclaimed portrayal of the title role in Tosca later this spring.

Celebrating 10 Years of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program We’ve brought this superstar line-up together to toast a decade of training the next batch of opera superstars. The program is one of the nation’s premiere training grounds, enabling participants to work full-time on their artistic development during the critical stage between the end of their formal academic or conservatory training and the onset of steady performing careers. Alumni, like Brenton Ryan, So Young Park and Joshua Guerrero, regularly appear with leading opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, English National Opera and Opera Australia, among many others. Many of them have also been winners of Operalia, the prestigious international vocal competition founded by Plácido Domingo.

Tickets for this one-night only event are on sale now. Be sure you get a seat at this magical evening of song and celebration.